joining me now is howard dean and joe watkins, former white house aide under george w. bush. >> good to see you, alex. how are you? >> i'm well, thank you. >> governor dean, look at this first republican endorsement since 1972 from "the des moines register," after president obama wasn't able to meet with the editorial board in person. do you thiyou think that had an influence. i spoke with rick green, he said it didn't. >> petulence is a major factor in newsrooms. look, they endorsed john edwards in the '04 primary. endorsements don't matter very much in races like this. they matter in down ballot races where people don't know them very much, but i don't think anybody is waiting to decide in this incredibly close election to see what "the des moines register" does. people read editorials because they are written by smart people, but they are read by smart people as well. >> i spoke with anne cornblunt, and she brought up that the tribune in salt lake city endorsed president obama. that state is going red, we know that. but in the state of iowa, sir, a small percentage o